“My love for literature started at The Gunnery,” said Alysia Tacinelli ‘02, an intern at Bloomsbury Academic. 

Peter C. Smith ’89 spent most of the spring and summer of 2010 with the Evolution Extreme Action Sports Tour, hitting markets in Canada and the United States.

When Derick TeeKing ‘85 was attending the University of Vermont (B.A., Economics), Ralph Lauren visited his campus looking to hire for retail management positions. 

“Many people see Harvard (University) in very stereotypic terms,” said Dwight Miller ‘55, Harvard’s Senior Admissions Officer.

“I stayed connected to The Gunnery long after I graduated,” said Kate Marek ’05. 

In the 1970s, Peter Cree ‘71 thought he was going to be a lawyer.  During his undergraduate years, all of that changed.

Increase jobs. Cut debt.  Reform Washington.  Will Gregory ’03 promises to fight for these initiatives if he is elected to the United States Congress from Connecticut’s 4th District. 

Leslie Kumar ’99 proudly announces the opening of her jewelry line, NYLA STAR which offers quality pieces that can transition from day wear to night.

“I attribute my success to The Gunnery,” said Will McKee ’06. “I learned time management and other life lessons such as working hard, extending yourself outside of athletics into academics; both require a lot of work and time to get what you want to achieve.”

“Anyone who struggled as much as I did academically needs to find something to help them develop,” said furniture designer, Adam Criscuolo ’03.

Picking up and starting over does not daunt Bonnie Carlson-Phillips ’82. If anything, she sees it as a luxury and benefit. 

Journalist. Author.  Editor. Trainer. Media critic. Husband. Father. Grandfather.  George Krimsky ’60 has realized a number of dreams and successes, both professionally and personally.

Photographer, Phil Dutton ’81 has become a face on campus familiar to many students and faculty.  Many of The Gunnery’s recent photographs come from his own camera.  Over the past year, he has developed bonds with the students through his attendance at their activities and provided beautiful shots of the school’s campus and those who inhabit it.  Many Gunnery community members know him through his website, www.phototrophies.com, where he features his photographs of the school’s athletic events and specifically photos of individual students at the games. The Gunnery, however, is only one of the many clients for Philip Dutton Photography. Phil’s deep understanding for capturing a moment comes from over twenty years of experience in photography and filmmaking.

Krista Lukos ’04 has been hard at work as an entrepreneur since college.  With two other friends, she worked on the creation of Uncorked, a wine tasting bistro in West Hartford, CT.  This new establishment will add to the ever-growing BlueBack Square area. “I have always loved wine,” said Krista. “Working on this business was the perfect excuse to make wine my hobby. What 23 year old can afford wine as a hobby?”

Kizmahr Grell ‘05 is living the dream of countless others as a point guard, and professional basketball player for ABC Amsterdam/Eclipse Jet/MyGuide Amsterdam.  For the past year, he has played mostly in Holland. “Because of basketball, I have been able to see the world. I am visiting places that I could only have dreamed of visiting.” During the Euro Challenge, he will travel to Russia and Italy. Also, since he began his yearlong contract, he has received offers to play in Greece, Spain, Hungary, and Amsterdam.  “I am having the time of my life,” said Kiz. “I love my teammates. It is a wonderful feeling to play with a group of people whose company you enjoy.”

Kelly Williams ’00 fell into a career in naval architecture completely by accident.  The New Orleans native always had a love for architecture in general; however, never in her wildest dreams, did she see herself working as a naval architect marine engineer for Kvichak Marine Industries. After studying civil engineering for three years at St. Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, Kelly returned home to Louisiana to study architecture at the University of New Orleans.  A college-ice-hockeyplayer in Canada, she asked her father to sign her up for classes.  It wasn’t until she returned to New Orleans that she realized all the classes he signed her up for were in naval architecture.  Instead of freaking out, dropping out, or passing out, Kelly went with the flow.  A few classes and years later, she left college with a degree in (and newly founded passion for) naval architecture.

When Leigh Buckens ’02 sets out to see America, he doesn’t mess around, but his mode of transportation is an unlikely choice. Instead of the conventional plane, train, or automobile, he opted for something simple: the bicycle.  With two of his friends, Leigh grabbed the most essential and least weighty necessities of life and set out on a journey that would cover approximately 3800 miles of land, beginning in California and ending in Georgia. When we spoke to him he was in Missouri and hoping to make Georgia by Halloween. (One of life’s 21st century essentials is an I-phone.)

Francesca Moscatelli ’80 has always had an interest in what people buy.  “Why do some people buy Coke and some buy Pepsi,” she asks. “It is packaged differently yet what is inside is kind of similar.”  With this natural passion and talent for ascertaining the buying habits of consumers, she pursued a career in the advertising world and currently runs her own marketing business specializing in qualitative data collection. 

Los Angeles resident and producer Patrick Baker ’89 is bringing the green world to the celluloid world. Currently, he is overseeing a documentary on the Plastiki Expedition, the brainchild of British Adventurer David de Rothschild who is building a 60ft catamaran made entirely out of 12,000 post consumer-recycled two liter bottles and other reusable materials that he intends to sail 10,000 nautical miles from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia in the fall of 2009. National Geographic Films will release the two-hour series in the fall of 2010. Patrick oversees all production matters involving the film on behalf of Smart Productions.

Before West End theater producer, Thomas Perakos ‘69 went to The Gunnery, he was a child actor. He had participated in several repertory theatres in Connecticut, particularly the Repertory Theater of New Britain. He even performed in a production of Brigadoon at The Gunnery. “Being an actor was my dream,” said Tom, “but I put it on the back burner to attend to my education. However, I never stopped going to theater and immersing myself in the theatrical world.” Today, Tom is living his dream on London’s West End where he is currently producing the play Mrs. Palfrey (opening fall 2010) and musical adaptations of the classic movies Ghost (opening in 2010) and Rebecca (opening in late 2010 or 2011).

Tyler Farmen ’00 has P.L. Travers and Walt Disney to thank for his new exhibition, Mr. Poppins Workshop, currently showcased at the Washington Arts Association (Washington, CT). While attending a performance of the musical version of Mary Poppins on Broadway, Tyler was immediately struck with the protagonist’s uncanny ability to breathe life into “lifeless objects and people” such as chimney sweeps and old bird ladies. He went back to his art studio in Washington, CT and created a body of work celebrating objects labeled as “undesirable” or “disregarded.” He breathed new life into each object and painted them a face, giving them a sense of individuality. When it came time to name the exhibit, Tyler went back to his initial inspiration. “I remember the play,” he said. “There was a Ms. Poppins, but there wasn’t a Mister.” There is now.

For the past twenty years, Norma Davis ’79 has had a successful and fulfilling career as an attorney specializing in civil rights and disability law. She worked with several firms and organizations including the New York City Commission on Human Rights, Peabody and Brown, and Disability Rights of New Jersey, to name a few. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight or nine,” said Norma. “However, when I graduated college, I knew I didn’t want to do it right away.”

“When I look back on my career so far,” said New Yorker Kevin McManus ’88, “I’ve had several different lives. The common denominator has been the ability to put pen to paper. I have no arrogance or ego about it. It was in the hands of my teachers at The Gunnery who taught me how to write. I credit (teachers) Russ Elgin, Pam Taylor and others for cultivating my love for language, writing, and the rhythm of words.”

“My career in journalism has leaned towards the criminal justice system,” said Richard “Dick” Lehr ’72. “Justice motivates me – seeking and exposing justice and injustice which is an important part of our American society.

Unlike many pre-law students, Diana Delaney ’91 did not major in political science or law studies during her undergraduate days at Wheaton College. She pursued her B.A. degree in English literature. This was probably the best choice she ever could have made; the intense reading and writing skills prepared her for her future as an attorney at Regan Associates in Massachusetts.

Cpt. Adam Peacock ’00 served in Iraq for fifteen months and surprisingly, described his experience as being “fun.” This admission would no doubt perplex or bewilder most civilians. During his tour of duty, he moved around the country. In some places, he felt safe. In others, he and the rest of his brigade were on edge. “We were always ready to move and do what we needed to do,” said Adam. “We never let down our guard. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much simpler life is over there. Everything I knew about the western culture and a normal life was flipped on its head. In the Arabic culture, family is the highest priority, unlike in the States where government is the highest priority.”

Teaching adolescents in the 24/7 atmosphere of The Gunnery is quite a departure from Morgen (Goepel) Fisher’s prior life as a pilot and flight instructor. She worked for a charter company, Tradewind Aviation, flying people in small planes and instructed other would-be pilots at Image Aviation Services.

How many people risk a career change from a long-established successful profession? Bill Smyth ’57 kept all his options open and took them, not really knowing if they would pan out. After twenty-five years of working in education, he took a job with Master Chimney Sweepers (MCS) where he still works in sales and operations.

“I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were avid antique collectors,” said interior designer, Alison Lufkin ’86. “I grew up around a lot of nice things. I would redecorate my room every other week when I was younger.” Alison is still redecorating a room every other week as an adult, but this time, as the owner and primary designer for Sullivan and Company in San Francisco, CA.

On January 14th, Otoja Abit ’04 will open in an Off-Off Broadway production of Two Gentlemen of Verona in the role of “Thurio” with the American Theater of Actors on 314 West 54th Street and 8th Avenue. The road to this monumental accomplishment was an interesting one.

For Elizabeth “Lizzie” Keating ‘90, going green is a natural way of life; not a new millennium trend. She grew up in Wellesley, MA and carries vivid memories of her neighbors recycling all the time- and this was in the 1970s. Growing up in the northeastern corner of the state contributed to her environmental consciousness. This way of living paid off this past April when she and her fiancé opened Green Cab VT. Described as “the latest innovation in taxi service”, this environmentally conscious cab company offers transportation service to residents in Burlington and Montpellier, VT utilizing alternative fuel vehicles, hybrids, and electric cars.

For T.K. Knowles ’85, getting fired from his job was actually a good thing. While working at a media production company, he and one of his colleagues were let go, left with the daunting task of finding a new way to support themselves. Both tossed around the idea of going into business for themselves, but starting a new business at the time, according to TK, was “a scary proposition.” Eventually, they stepped outside their comfort zone, threw caution to the wind, and developed Bob Industries based in Santa Monica, CA. That was ten years ago, and since then, they have developed a reputation for producing high quality multi-media commercials.

Jackie Effren ’04 was a political science major at a college specializing in a political science curriculum (American University) in a political city (Washington, DC). In the process, she became very pessimistic about a career in politics. She had seen too much, heard too much, and started to question her passion for professions in government. An internship with Congressman Christopher Shays changed her perspective. When she wasn’t answering phones, giving Capitol tours to constituents, or letter writing, she had the chance to view, first-hand, policy development and how the government really works. This internship was the beginning of her career, and since May 2008, she has been working as Shays’ Field Coordinator for the southwestern district of Connecticut.

If you are looking for a partisan periodical, don’t read Politics Magazine. As staff writer Doug Daniels ’97 explains, “we focus not so much on the commentary (like FOX news and MSNBC), but new political trends that can make a difference.” However, this effort toward neutrality comes with its challenges. “It’s tough to remain non-partisan,” said Doug, “and stay down the middle. It’s much more difficult to hide in face-to-face interviews than in my writing. You have to be extra conscious of it, but it is easy to balance is you are conscious of it.”

“I wanted to be a professional tennis player before I came to The Gunnery,” said Peter Smith ’57. Ultimately, his unforgettable experience at Mr. Gunn’s school was the genesis for his long career in the educational field as a professor and a researcher.

Andrew Littaumer ’60 was facing a dilemma upon completing the Foreign Service exam shortly after college. “I was interviewed by the CIA, but they felt it wasn’t right for me,” he said. “I couldn’t be anonymous enough. I asked myself, `How could I have a career in foreign affairs?’” The Political Science major found his answer in the most unlikely of places when the banking world allowed him to work and transfer overseas. In a career spanning four decades, Andrew has worked in major areas such as Geneva (where he studied abroad as an undergrad), London, Brussels, Hong Kong, and most recently, Romania. He currently performs double duty as the VP Europe for Pinnacle Worldwide and the owner of APT Resources.

Despite a turbulent job market, Justin DeLauri ’00 has managed to survive and prosper within his profession. While other companies have seen massive layoffs, his organization has not taken too much of a hit. One can say that he picked the right profession. “I am a resource manager for Millennium Consulting,” he said.”I do IT recruiting. The way the world works now, you will always need IT.”

Commercial litigator, Peter Gallagher ’84 delineated the key components to a successful trial: First, hope for an intellectual, bright, and meticulous judge who will fully engage him or herself into the legal and factual issues. Second, go in with an idea of how to effectively present an argument. Finally and most importantly, develop an absolute mastery of the material. As a partner of Kennedy, Johnson, and Gallagher, LLC, Peter has practiced what he preaches and more during his fifteen year career in trial work involving business and commercial disputes.

Unless you have been living under a rock these past few months, you have probably been attuned to the most ground-breaking Democratic primary in American history. Love it, hate it, or love to hate it; it has, like all elections, been thoroughly covered in all the media. No one knows this better than CNN Producer, Carey Bodenheimer ’87. Assigned to the coverage of the Democratic Party, she serves as a field producer covering the candidates and their campaigns. Travelling with CNN political correspondents, Carey goes from political event to political event, bringing the story to the world.

Fitness instructor, Rebecca Galsterer ’92 offers some helpful tips for a successful exercise regime. “Eat well with a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables,” she said, “and exercise. Do cardio at least 30 minutes a day, five days per week. Every other day, do weight training for 30 minutes.” She explains that alternating every other day will give the muscles a chance to rebuild and replenish.

Chris Babcock ’68 blames The Gunnery for his life-long musical career as an organist. When he applied at The Gunnery in the mid-sixties, the Admissions Director was skeptical about the prospects for his success at the school. “You have bad grades, and you’re not good at sports,” he said to Chris. “Why should we let you in? What can you do?”

This is a busy time of year for Tara Friedman ’03. In addition to studying to be a Certified Public Accountant, she is putting in 14-hour days (including Saturdays) as an auditor in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)’ real estate group. “This is the end of the year for our clients,” said Tara. Along with eight to ten people on her business team, she examines and approves a company’s financial statements in order for investors to have confidence in the financials of those companies when they make investments. Currently, she is busy working with two clients with varying time frames.

Politics is not the only arena for gender-blindness. As a culinary veteran, George “Ted” Stonbely ‘99 notes, “In general, American culture and society regards the kitchen is a feminine place. Commercially, it’s seen as a very masculine place and to make a beautiful dish is a high art form unto itself”. As head of the Banquet Beverage department at the Marriott Marquis Catering operation, Ted uses his deft skills to create innovative wine packages, including coming up with menu pairings, setting hotel trends in both décor and drink tastes while executing large scale parties for one of the largest operations in New York City.

With the distinguished, scholarly ideology stapled to educational tv, many tend to forget that its humble beginnings derive from a big yellow bird, a cyboid named “Digit” and the cast of The Electric Company. Nobody knows this better than Emily Zyko ’98 who works for 13WNET, a subsidiary of PBS. Within this organization, she is a project manager with Family Literacy, an initiative to work with the New York City community at large to maximize their television usage.

Chad Taylor ‘ 03 spends his days (and nights) as a tour manager for Mick Management, a music managing company whose clients include John Mayer, Ray Lamontagne, and Brett Dennen. For the last three months, he has been on the road with the latter, travelling across the United States. He is responsible for the successful execution of four to five shows a week in a different city every night. His work day is practically 24 hours long (Wake up time is 7:00a.m., and bedtime is 2:00A.M.). Despite the grueling demands, he loves every minute of it.

Artist and writer, Davina Perl Beacham ’86 vividly remembers her young son, George, asking the question upon coming home from school. “What does odd mean,” he asked, “Max (at school) says I am odd.”Davina was thrown but answered, “Odd means that you are different. That is a wonderful thing.” For most of her life, Davina, herself, felt a little odd and quirky. “I always felt like I was different,” she said, “but I assumed everyone felt like that.” She was able to capitalize on her eccentricities as an artist, a writer, a wife, and a mother.

2008 is a defining year in the political world, and no one knows that better than Christopher C. Healy ‘76, State Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party. He, like many others, is rallying behind his candidates hoping for successes in the elections later this year. Chris has served for six years on the State Central Committee, representing both the 30th Senatorial District and the First Senatorial District, which includes Wethersfield and Hartford. He was re-elected in June 2007 for another two year term.

Have you ever gone shopping for a dress with a particular image in mind? You know exactly what color you want, what style it should be, and how it should fall on you? How many hours have you spent in every Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, and Lord & Taylor’s across the country looking for this desired piece of clothing only to come up empty, frustrated, and in some cases, depressed (after all, isn’t a size two the new size four?). Andrea Marron ’04 also had this issue. Her solution? The internet-based Studio 28 Couture, Inc. “I have always had an interest in fashion and decided to start Studio 28 when I saw a trend towards customizable fashion,” said Andrea. “Through our web site and by implementing an efficient system, Studio 28 is able to offer custom-made dresses to women all over at a reasonable price.”

Since May 2007, Michael Messina has travelled throughout western and southern Connecticut as a Professional Sales Representative / Diabetes Specialist for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Since the corporate office is located in Chicago, Mike’s office is his newly purchased condominium in West Haven, CT although he spends a fair amount of time on the road. Typically, he will review the safety studies with the doctors in his assigned territory. He will take the doctor’s feedback to the company to improve their marketing and counsel his clients about their perceived problems with the products regarding their concerns for Takeda’s products aimed particularly at diabetes patients. “With our sales, it is an on-going sell. We are constantly providing current, up-to-date information. We are mostly concerned that the doctors are satisfied with the product and that patient safety and that disease state management is the ultimate goal.”

Imagine a world where the average human life span is 45. Picture a place where it’s common to have flies go into your mouth while speaking. Now imagine, if you will, that even under these and other horrendous living conditions, the inhabitants are happy and content and display a strong sense of humor. Dara Schlesinger ’86 learned this on her recent trip to Ethiopia as a member of Save the Children, an independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need around the world. Dara, one of thirty Board members, handles the strategic planning and nominating for this humanitarian group.

This past June, Claude Kershner ’03 joined CB Richard Ellis, the largest commercial real estate company in the world, in the Philadelphia downtown office. As a researcher, he focuses on statistical interpretation, market activity research, and information management for office and industrial properties. Working mostly with brokers, Claude says that, “40% of my time is spent on statistical interpretation of commercial properties and the vacancy rates. This is done to understand what the market is currently like. I will examine how much of the space is occupied.”

An urban public school system? A maximum security prison? Which is a worse place to work? Teacher, Philip Leonida ’96 will take the latter any day. “At least I know the felons aren’t armed,” he said. Since 2004, Philip has spent his days teaching reading, science, math, English, and social studies to the inmates of San Quentin State Prison. “Not as a fellow inmate, mind you,” he adds. “I teach felons so that they can earn their GEDs.”

Kathryn Kane ’92‘s career path proves the adage that it’s not your college major that determines your future.. She was a psychology major at Fairfield University, but took a job in branding and merchandising management with Levi Strauss in California. Although she had minimal experience, she developed a passion for her work in what she describes as an “always changing, fast-paced career”. Over the next decade, she had jobs with several Fortune-500 companies including eBay, Inc., where she currently works with the Marketing and Strategic Planning Group.

Amanda Seitz ’00 looks at fashion as a piece of art. It is an art form that, in her opinion, is embraced by many people who enjoy expressing their creativity and individualism in the clothes they wear. Trends, styles, and tastes change on a yearly, sometimes monthly, basis, and Amanda makes it her business to always stay one step ahead of the general public as a buyer for the family-owned J. Seitz & Company in New Preston, CT. The store specializes in clothing for women, men, and children, home furnishings and accessories, and jewelry.

Physician Norman Polk '63 looks back to earlier times with great fondness. “In the 1960s, doctors were held in high regard,” he explains. “Nowadays, you can be sued at the drop of a hat. Also, one third of all physicians are within five years of retirement, and we are not replacing them. We’re in a bit of a medical crisis now.” This growing trend hasn’t soured Norman’s view of the medical world and his colleagues all over the world. “The old guys, like me, don’t retire. They will work into their 70s.”

Dr. William G. Ellis '58 credits a tennis game for starting his professional educational career. One day during his undergraduate years at Babson College, he was playing a match with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Between backhands and flat serves, he and his mentor chatted about his future career paths. “Have you ever thought of teaching?” asked the VP. For some reason, this question stuck with William, and, after that moment, everything seemed clear. A long, successful career as both a professor and administrator in higher education soon followed, culminating with Dr. Ellis being named Business Professor of the Year, both in 1999 and 2007, by his students at Concordia University Wisconsin.

Despite the recent downturn in real estate, Leonard Raimondi ‘98, a superintendent for LEHR Construction Company, is booked solid with jobs through the end of the calendar year. Since graduating from Manhattan College with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he has worked with the “#2 construction company in Manhattan” providing service to commercial clients in New Jersey, Westchester, and Manhattan.

After 24 years on the East Coast, Jamie Scott ’01 has reached a crossroads. This summer she is moving to San Francisco, Calif. to pursue a career in marketing for the cosmetics industry. Several steps over the years have influenced her to decision.

The work of Steve Browne ‘69 has been admired by college students and children all over the world. His self-published book, The Video Tape Post Production Primer, was picked up by colleges including Columbia as a text book, and sold thousands of copies. Also, as a film editor, he finished all the first-run theatrical commercials for the Walt Disney Studios including the smash hits The Lion King and Pocahontas. In a career spanning 30 years, Steve has followed the ever-changing world of film and television editing. Recently, he published his eighth book, High Definition Postproduction, released in December 2006 by Focal Press. The text describes many of the editing processes used in High Definition and HDV.

Rachel Messinger, a graduate of the class of 1988, has struck a winning balance between career, home and family – and not necessarily in that order. Family has been the common denominator for every stage of her life, thus far. Currently, she works alongside her father with the MCM Dental Group in Meriden, CT. Rachel is fortunate to have chosen a profession that gives her the ability to spend time with her number one priority; her family. A mother of two (Hannah, 4 and Samuel, 1 ½), she says, “Finding a harmonious balance between my work and my family has been one of my greatest achievements and has given me the most joy.”

In two short years, Tharin Laorauvirodge ’00 has established himself as a leader in the world of medical product design. Employed as a Design Engineering Associate for Axia Medical, Inc, he joined a team of marketers and mechanical and electrical engineers where he designs products distributed internationally both through Axia and under the brands of larger companies.

Journalist Greg Coy ‘79 wakes up every morning with east coast residents from Maine to Virginia. As the co-anchor / host of “Your Morning” which airs every weekday on the CN8 channel, he spends the early hours telling people what they want to know, or in many cases, need to know as they ready themselves for the day. A 22-year news veteran, he has mastered the art of selecting and reporting on a story that will resonate with viewers. A graduate of Washington & Lee University (B.A., Journalism and Sociology), Greg chose to enter the field of journalism to help other people, to challenge himself creatively, and to embark on adventure. “I never wake up and do the same thing or cover the same topic,” Greg said. With a plethora of stories to tell from all points on the globe, the bottom line for story selection remains: “Why do I care? How will this affect my life?”

“I have witnessed an evolution in branding within the hotel industry,” said Kristina Vetter ’99, Senior Manager of Brand Management of Starwood Hotels. “It used to be thought of only as marketing, but it has transformed into customer experience management, encompassing design, technology management, organizational learning and hotel operations, in addition to marketing.” Tina credits this change within the organization to current Starwood CEO, Steven J. Heyer (formerly of the Coca-Cola Company), who brought a strong focus on branding to Starwood Hotels in order to differentiate the company from other large hotel chains around the world.

Actor Erik Steele ’89 returns to the Scopes “monkey trial” of 1925 when he opens in the Broadway Revival of Inherit the Wind as radio announcer “Harry Esterbrook” in March 2007 at the Lyceum Theatre. The limited twelve week run tells the story of science teacher, John Scopes, who violated a Tennessee law that forbade the teaching of evolution in schools. This is Erik’s second time on the Great White Way, where he previously appeared as “Laurant” in the Roundabout Theater’s production of Tartuffe.

Letters Editor Chelsea Stein ’01 spends her time writing every day for the next day. Since March 2006, she has written text, designed layout, and edited copy for the Editor’s Page of The Washington Times. She keeps abreast of current news by reading, researching, and conferring with her sources on Capitol Hill. Over the past ten months, her story topics have run the gamut from local liquor licensing laws to free speech prosecution in Turkey.

Scott Milas ‘78 was working as a food manager for a regional supermarket chain when a business associate told him about a bagel shop in Farmington, CT that needed some TLC. This awoke a passion that began in his adolescent years when he worked at a pizzeria. He dreamed of owning his own pizzeria. With 20+ years of experience in marketing, sales, and management, Scott decided to look into the rundown bagel shop and pursue his dream. After a lengthy period of renovation, Benny’s Bagel Connection opened as Scotty’s Aurora Café. Although it isn’t a pizzeria, it is a labor of love and source of pride for Scott.

Katherine Lyons ‘83 was working in the education world for a decade before she landed a position as the Community Liaison for the Baltimore City Public School. In this role, she organizes after-school programs, assists with daily school routines such as attendance taking and distributing of late passes, and applies for federal grants for school programs. One achievement she’s most proud of procuring is a grant from the VH1 Save the Music Foundation which helped to build the school’s music department.

Apartheid may have ended in 1994, but something else has been segregating the streets of South Africa since the 1980s and continues to cause a rift to this day. The HIV / AIDS pandemic is widespread, growing on a daily basis and engulfing many South Africans. Duncan Rollason ’03, a senior at Connecticut College, spent the summer of 2006 interning at the Knysna AIDS Council, helping the 17% of the population infected with this disease.

How do you develop a winning team? How do you coach executives who are derailing their careers because they are too self centered or arrogant? What do successful leaders do differently from other senior managers? In a career devoted to human resources spanning three decades, Stephen Baird ’68, Managing Director of UBS, has grappled with these questions and more. In his eyes, human capital serves as the building blocks for organizational success. Since October 2002, he has shared his talents working on The Gunnery Board of Trustees, and in April 2006, he was appointed President of the Board.

Recently, Allison Congdon ’96 assisted in bringing a new life into the world. Led by Dr. Valeria Rickard, a top veterinary reproductive specialist, she watched as a Caesarian-section was performed to the small Papillion in labor. This medical strategy was implemented due to the fact that one of the puppies was stuck in the birth canal. Does this happen often? “Yes,” replies Allison, “Frequently, we perform C-Sections on English Bulldogs as they are physically incapable of natural birth due to broad shoulders and girth.” For the past decade, Allison has served as a veterinary technician for a number of animal hospitals on the east coast. Since September, she has worked at the North Oatlands Animal Hospital in Leesburg, VA.

Golf superintendent, Steve Curry ‘87 scored a hole in one when he landed a position on the volunteer maintenance crew at the Ryder Cup Matches between an American and a European team in Ireland this past September. An avid golf fan, he has been in the business of keeping the greens at the Berkshire Hills Country Club neat and presentable since 1998. His stint in the Ryder Cup came in response to a good deed.

“I can see myself working on the next presidential election,” predicts lobbyist, Michelle Young ’99. Active in political affairs since her freshman year of college, she has worked tirelessly with congressmen, senators, and other government officials on numerous campaigns throughout Illinois, Washington, DC and Washington state. In October 2004, she had the privilege of working on the Washington state Kerry / Edwards Coordinated Campaign as the Deputy Seattle Regional Field Director / Get Out the Vote Director.

For decades, Gunnery alumni have sent their children back to their alma mater for a complete boarding school experience. Alumni such as Andrew Smith ‘66, Frank Macary ‘77, Rusty McKee ‘72, Lloyd Elston ‘44, and Tom Boileau ‘71 (and many more) have watched, with not a little envy, as their children bear witness to their fathers' legacies and emerge at graduation with their own personal experiences. The year 2006-2007, however, marks a milestone in this ongoing chain of families in Gunnery history. When Alexandra “Lexie” Lipham ‘10 and Christina Cornell ‘09 enrolled on September 5th, they represented the first legacies whose mothers attended The Gunnery when co-education resumed in 1977. Lexie's and Christina's mothers, Ann Watson Lipham ‘79 and Sarah "Sally" Houldin Cornell ’82, are these pioneers of co-education.

Matthew Petras ’97 was every bit the salesman as an executive recruiter with FPC (Fortune Personnel Consultant) of Southbend, a firm founded by his father in 1996. He spoke with potential consumers and pitched a product that would alleviate their work lives. However, one major factor differentiated his product from the average telemarketer or salesman – he connected workers and their services with employers, matching up a client (a.k.a. the corporation) with a candidate (a.k.a. the worker). “We would recruit and place middle management and executive level purchasing professionals,” said Matt, “with companies in the manufacturing industries.”

Andrea Cecchinato ’97 makes it very clear that she is an athletic trainer; not a personal trainer, and there is a huge difference between the two. Yes, she works in an athletic department (Endicott College). Yes, she spends most of her time on the fields. And yes, she is well versed in the art of athletics. And although the word “trainer” is in her official job title, she does not make a living instructing people how to exercise properly and eat healthily. Since joining the staff of Endicott in August 2005, Andrea, along with four other athletic trainers, works with athletes on the rehabilitation of their injuries and suggests courses of action for injury prevention. She also teaches Clinical Education classes in undergraduate athletic training for juniors and seniors.

On November 18, 2001, four teens torched and vandalized the main building of Gobind Sadan USA, an interfaith worship community headed by Sikhs in the Palermo, NY area (north of Syracuse). The adolescents, who were later convicted, set the blaze because they were under the false impression that the Sikhs supported Osama Bin Laden and the terrorist attacks on September 11th. One of those teens was Oswego County resident, Cassie Hudson. Little did she realize that less than one year later, she would be welcomed with open arms by the same people she attacked just ten months earlier. “We welcomed Cassie into our community,” said Director of Publications and Public Relations, Ralph Singh Rakieten ‘66 for Gobind Sadan USA, “and presented a very powerful statement of forgiveness.”

With a focused sensibility and driving ambition, Simone Koo '00 fearlessly threw herself into the fast-paced world of finance as a Financial Analyst for Goldman Sachs. This position comes after years of intense study at both The Gunnery and Georgetown University in Washington, DC. After an eight month stint as a consultant in DC, she relocated to New York City, which she describes as "the financial center of the world" to work at Goldman. Over the summer, she will relocate to London to work as an Investment Professional with Morgan Stanley.

“Find a balance. Part of your job is to manage the job; the other part is to manage yourself. Look for other opportunities within the company and lobby, not overtly, but enough for people to notice you.” This was the sage advice offered by Jonathan S. Linen '62, recently retired Vice Chairman of American Express, where he has been employed since 1969.

His story is the dream of many. Music was always a major part of Brandon Dufour’s ’02 life, and he often dreamed of a career in the music industry. He was an avid listener and fan of several musicians particularly the Dave Matthews Band. Little did he know that within five short years, he would be working with Dave Matthews himself. Currently, Brandon serves as the Office Manager / Assistant to the General and Label Managers at ATO Records based in New York City. ATO also works with two out-of-office management companies for recording artists John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band.

When approaching her work, jewelry designer Serena Van Rensselaer ’88 thinks outside the box and mixes unusual, eclectic materials to produce innovative pieces which she describes as “being more like sculpture than jewelry.” Organic in nature, diamonds will be set with pearls or sterling silver rivets will be mixed with wood. Since graduating from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA with a BFA in Jewelry Fine Arts, she designs, creates, and sells wholesale collections through showrooms to a clientele in both the USA and Japan.

Attorney Lori Galletto ’90 begins her work day three blocks from the White House at the law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP. A member of the firm’s Employee Retirement Income Security Act and Investment Management Practice Groups, she advises major financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, and registered investment advisers. Established and respected by her peers, the road to law has been a rewarding one for Lori.

“If your lead isn’t good,” said reporter Tony Dobrowolski ’73, “people won’t read your story.” In a career spanning 22 years in journalism, Tony has written countless news stories utilizing eye-catching introductory sentences to inform the public of current events – local, regional, and national. He has covered everything from murder trials and athletic games, to local interest topics. Since 1992, he has served as a reporter for the Berkshire Eagle, a newspaper with a daily circulation of 30,000 covering Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. Currently, he reports on Pittsfield, covering city council and news from City Hall.

Even the possibility of trespassing on a dig site causes the hair on the back of Poppy Baldwin's '80 neck to stand up. Employed at John Milner Associates (JMA) in New Bedford, MA, this Project Archaeologist along with other archaeologists, architects, and historians, dedicates herself to historic preservation and cultural resource management. “Archaeology can be very destructive,” she said. “We try to put things back the way we found them.” Poppy and the rest of the staff try to ensure the integrity of the site and its surrounding environment. “Every so often we will come across an unmarked site. I have a complete respect for it if it turns out to be a burial ground.”

Beginning in the seventh grade, professional football player-turned NFL Scout Sean Stellato ’97 would watch a video-taped game of his idol Doug Flutie before every game in which he played. Standing 5'9", Sean had been told repeatedly by coaches and fellow players that he was too small for football. Watching Flutie was an inspiration and a reminder to Sean that, with hard work, dedication and passion, anything is possible. Years of intensive training combined with natural talent rewarded Sean with a successful athletic career culminating in a spot on a professional Arena 2 Football League team. In the summer of July 2004, he became a certified player agent for the National Football League.

“I wouldn’t be in this profession,” said psychotherapist Betsy Milas Treiber ’79, “if I didn’t think therapy was a worthwhile thing. Everyone has life issues. Therapy is not just for the mentally ill. It allows you to live a full life in a place of awareness.” A Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Betsy has spent the majority of her professional career helping others (and herself) work towards personal awareness. She, along with another therapist, has a private practice in the Easton, MA area.

World traveler Nathan Koldys ’96 originally set out to climb the forbidding Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to conquer demons that haunted his childhood and adolescence. It was a mission to prove that he was capable of doing something physically and athletically challenging. It was also a chance for him to feel as normal as others appeared. However, through his trek up the almost 19,000 foot mountain, he found something he wasn’t expecting – he found himself.

As a PLEBE (first year student) at The Merchant Marine Academy, Mark Lauretano ’05 has had to adjust to a way of life very different from that at The Gunnery. Since his arrival at the Academy in July, he has learned military songs, the mission of the Academy and the proper way to march and make beds. He was also required to memorize leadership traits and the names of the 200 members of the senior class.

E. Camden Fisher ‘97 has parlayed a life-long fascination with all things computational and electronic into an interesting career. His innovative talents and thinking paid off in 2004 when he landed a job as Systems Administrator at Harpo Productions, a production company owned by talk show host and cultural icon, Oprah Winfrey.

Jane Botsford Johnson ’84 was introduced to Thoughtful House Center for Children (www.thoughtfulhouse.org), an organization specializing in the research and treatment of children with developmental disorders, when she brought her son there for help with his learning disabilities. While there, she developed a deep passion for studying the disorders that affect children all over the world (autism, ADD, ADHD, PDD, and NLD), and since August of 2004, she has served as a Co-Managing Director of the Board of Directors. She is heavily involved with the researchers, educators, and physicians that make up this Texas-based center.

Since 1999, Jacqueline Entenmann ’86 has worked alongside her father, Robert Entenmann, as a proprietor of Martha Clara Vineyards, located on the North Fork of Long Island, NY. Founded by Robert in 1995, the vineyard produces over a dozen different types of white, red, sparkling and dessert wines, specializing in Merlot and Chardonnay.

Nick Munson ‘59 has fond memories of fly fishing as a child with his father deep in the Adirondacks. From an early age, he developed a deep passion for this challenging sport in which one seeks to attract one’s prey by preparing a fake meal in the shape of an appealing insect, small fish or worm.

For the last six years, Tyrrell Januzzi RN ‘91 has made the Children’s Aid Society in New York her professional home as the Program Nurse. However, a decision this past September to go back to school for a master’s degree in Social Work prompted her to take on the new position of Social Worker / Educational Coordinator. In this role, she works under the foster care umbrella to find suitable homes and educational institutions for underserved, and in many cases, handicapped children in the New York City area.

Original and syndicated programming. Films. Athletic Events. Mark Lazarus ’82, President of Turner Entertainment Group, spends his day ensuring that the networks under Turner’s diverse programming umbrella contain “the right mix.” As president he oversees all the sales, business and creative aspects of TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South, the Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Turner Sports.

With years of multi-cultural first-hand experience under her belt, teacher Tracy Hayes Schwarz ’82 brings an aura of authenticity to her class where English is frequently spoken as a second language. Her career path has taken her all over the world.

“Every male over the age of 35 should have a yearly exam,” said Harry Valentine ’53, a survivor of prostate cancer. “Get your diagnosis from a PSA test and take appropriate action if necessary.”

A profile of Stephen Garvan '70 and his career in mass media communication

A profile of Jennifer Zito '80, a Connecticut litigator

Read about Andrew Corsaro '93, a detective in the Baltimore Police Department.

Catch up with Maynard Webb '74, President of eBay Technologies.

Read about Nao Hattori '91 and her work at Sony Music Japan.

Career advice from Jon Tisch '72.

Catch up with Ellen Curry '90 who works in merchandising at Walt Disney World.

Catch up with midshipman Martin Leonard '04.

Read about Peter Sutton'68 and his work with the Bruce Museum of Arts and Sciences in Greenwich, CT.

Read about George Grande '64 and his career in broadcasting.

Read about Sarah and her work as Director of Quality Assurance for the Schwans Food Company.

Read about fashion designer, manufacturer and merchandiser James Perse '91.

Read about Mike Reisinger '94 and his work with Reich Publishing and Marketing, one of the largest hockey marketing groups in the country.

A profile of Kurt Soderberg ’89 and Elizabeth “Betsy” (von Seggern) Soderberg ’91.

Read about Fred Easter '59 and his work with The City, Inc.

Read about Krista Reinhart '90 and her career in the environmental sciences.

Ari Baum '03 shares his Gunnery experiences.

Read about Jeremy Burton ’95 and his 2,174 mile journey down the Appalachian Trail.

An interview with Laura Appleton Smith '86

Read about Jesse Soffer ’03 and his return to Daytime TV.

An interview with David Albala, Professor of Urology at Duke University

An interview with Ariel Pasch '97, Assistant Projects Manager with Suffolk Construction.